The enormous impact of the latest summer of heatwaves and drought must be a turning point for radical action to change how we produce food and manage landscapes.

The UK needs a fundamental rethink of how farmland is managed if it is to cope with increasingly severe floods, droughts and heatwaves driven by continued fossil fuel use, the NFFN says.

After another year of record-breaking heatwaves and droughts, it is clear short-term responses to individual weather events are no longer enough. Instead, farming policy and corporate investment must focus on long-term resilience.

Farmers need to recognise water as their most valuable resource, prioritising healthy soils that can absorb and retain rainfall, alongside creating more on-farm ponds and reservoirs to store water for prolonged dry periods.

We're calling on the Government and the private sector to provide greater financial support for water infrastructure and simplify the planning process for work with clear environmental outcomes.

Our CEO Martin Lines said: “Water is the single most important resource on any farm and increasingly the biggest challenge farmers face. This summer has shown the new reality. Without fundamental change, it will only become harder and the impact will become bigger.

"Too much of the debate still focuses on responding to the latest drought or flood. That approach is no longer enough. We need a long-term rethink of how we manage water across entire landscapes so farms are better prepared for both extremes.